Attachment for pianos and the like.



A. D. PALMER.

ATTACHMENT FOR PLANOS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FIL-ED MAY 14, 1909. 956,502,` Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

To BATTERY. By

A. D. PALMER. 'ATTACHMENT FOR PLANOS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1909.

956,502. Patent-.ed Apr.26,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

BASS v n V-v-F/Rgr OCTAVE- lV--srOcTAvE-H-.Seco/w OcTAvE-l 725 4a 24C 24. 4 2 a NVENO? Z/ber: .27. Palvmer.

. BY @j moa/mfr UNITED STA'ES PATE'I1 OFFICE.

ALBERT D. PALMER, F PITTSBURG, PENNSYLIANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN GERNERT, F PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS AND THE LIKE.

'Application led May 14, 1909. Serial No. 495,914.

To alt whom "it mag/concern:

Be it known that I,`ALBERT D. PALMER,

residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in- .vented certainnew and useful Improveu organs and likey instruments having k'eyboards, whereby drums, orchestra bells, Xylophones and other instruments ymay be electrically operated and controlled from a key` board infsuch mannerthat either a single tap may be given to such instruments at the will of the operator or a series of successive taps relatively close together may be imparted to such instruments if desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide electrically operated means controlled by the pedal of the piano or other like instrument for actuating a bass drum.

It is the object of my invention to provide an attachment of the foregoing character that may bc applied to any standard make of piano or other instrument/having a similar key-board without in any way damaging or requiring a re-building of the instrument.

In its more detail nature the invention also comprises those novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first described, then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l, is a diagrammatic perspective view of a piano key-board and pedals showing the application of my invention. Fig. 2, is a sectional perspective View of a portion of akey-board showing the circuit closing contact strip inserted beneath the keys. Fig. 3, is a further diagrammatic view illustrating the application of my invention, showing the action of the tenor drum operating means and the orchestra bell o )erating Fig. 4, is a diagrammatic view of a ,modification of my invention. Fig. 5, is a similar View of a further modification thereof. Fig. 6, is a detail sectionalview showing the manner of inserting the contact strip beneath the keys of the key-board.

Fig. 7 is a detail View of a part of the vinvention.

.Referring now to the accompanying draw;-

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

ings, in which like letters and numerals of reterence indicate like parts in all of the iigures, l represents the ordinary key-board.

2 represents the middle C of the piano, and 3 indicates the iirst bass octave below middle. C. v

. In piano key-boards' of the ordinary type the keys l are spaced from the base board 5, the spaces being 'closed at the front' of the keys by a strip which is secured to the base 5 in any desired manner. In applying my invention to piano key-boards and the like, I remove the strip 6 and insert the Contact maker beneath the keys 4 and then replace the strip 6, it being understood, of course, that suitable passages are left for the wires to pass from the key-board to the outside of .the piano in the usual manner to permit of the proper electrical wiring of the parts. The contactV maker 7 comprises a oase plate 7 of insulating material and a continuous contact strip 7') which 4is secured thereto, while a second contactstrip 7c having contact fingers 7d to rest beneath 'the respective keys is provided to cooperate with the strip Tb whereby when a key 4 is depressed electrical connection will be made between' the strips 7b and 7c. The tenor drum 8, is, in practice preferably actuated when any key in octave 3, being the first octave below middle (l, is depressed to close the circuits between the strips 7b and 7c respectively. From the strip 7" an electrical connection 9 is made with the shifting arm l0 of a two-point switch, the switch arm l0 having contact points ll--lQ.

13 designates an electro-magnetic makeand-break vibrating device of the general type of the ordinary vibrating electric bell, which device includes the magnets 13a, the pivoted armature 13b, the make and break contacts 13c and -the hammer 13d, which serves in lieu of the ordinary drum stick.

In carrying out my invention the magnets 13 have their terminals connected to binding posts 13 and 13f respectively, while the armature 13b is also electrically connected with the binding post l-lf and the stationary Contactl 13 of the make and break contact is connected with a third binding post 13g. The binding post l?)e is electrically connect,- ed through a wire la to a source of electric energy 14, which is in turn connected through a wire 14 with the Contact strip 7.

One ofthe switch points (say the point 11) los Q etienne drawings, so as to be simultaneously operated. When the switch llever 10 is in contact with the switch point 11 .and the operator depresses any, key 4: in theoctave 3 beneath which-the contact' maker 7 is'iocated, the circuit will be closed current iiowing vfrom the battery through the wire 14C across contact strip 7 to strip 7*via the'depressed contact finger 7d beneath the key and fromv the strip 7 b the current flows through switch lever 10 and lcontact point 11 to binding post 13, passing directly through the magnets 13 to binding post 13e. F rom binding post 13e the current returns Via wire 14a to battery 14C, thus completing the circuit.

During the depression of a key in the octave 3 while the switch lever 10 is o n contact point-11, a single tap will be imparted to the drum, by, reason o the energizing of the magnets 13 at each depression of a key 4. Now should the operator desire to impart a roll to the drum', it is vonly necessary for him to shift the *switch lever 10 'from Contact point 11 onto contact point K12. Upondepressing any key in the octave switch depressedv the clapper 13d will be rapidly 8' the circuit 4will be closed between contact plates 7c and 7b thus permitting current to fiow from battery 14 via wire 14.-c to contact` 7c and across the depressed strip 7c to contact stri 7b from which current tiows to the liever 10 and from thence through contact 12 and wire 12a to binding post 13g. From binding post 13% current flows through wire 13x to theiixed Contact l'j,c of the make and break Contact, across the: make and break contact to the armature 13b from which current ows through the magnets 13a to binding post 18d and to battery 14 via wire la; This sets up a vibration of the cla4 per 13d owing to athe rapid energizing ant denergizing of the magnets 13 as the clap )er 13d vibratesand-makes and breaks the circuit at the make and break contacts Thus whenever a key'in octave 3 is set into vibration and will continue to vicrate so long as a key is depressed in octave 3. By shitting theswitch l() to an intermediate position between contactsll and 12, no action of the tenor drum will take place while playing in octave 3.'

The bass drum 15 v` and cymbal 16 are actuated by 'a magnetically actuated drum stick 17 that is pivoted-at 18 to a bracket 19 thi-t is secured to the drum, the drum stick 17 Vhaving an extension 17@- carrying an ar' 'cahy connected to and is ais-o ccny ay wire Q2, the Le being connected by with a cc ct 23 that cooperates with a second cont/'act 23h to close the circuit troni the battery '21 through the magnet QG and rheostat Q2, the battery 21 being com nected with contacty 2 3 by a wire 21". The contacts' 23 and 23 are brought into en gagemcnt with one another through the action of the center practice?7 pcdai 23 ci a piano, or in ether desired manner so that the operator upon depressing the pedal 23 wiii close the contacts 2i and' 23 respectively and energize the magnet 20 which draws over armature 17b causing drum stick 17 with its hammer 17x to strike the head of the drum 15 and at the same time by adjusting the cymbal clapper 16 the cymbal 16 may be struck. The taps may be imparted to thc drum 15 at will by sirnply depressing pedal 23.

24C designates a second contact maker strip of similar construction to the contact maker strip 7 and consists of a fixed contact strip 24D corresponding to the contact strip 7", shown in Fig. 2,. of the drawings and a iinw ger contact strip 2li corresponding to the contact strip 7c of the contact-maker 7 the strip 24T h'aif'ingfmgers 24d corresponding to those 71 of the Contact maker 7. The contact maker Sie is preferably the length of two octavos and is placed, in practice, be- 'neath the irst and second octaves above, middle C including middle C as the irst key ofthe first octave and this Contact maker controls the action of the orchestra bells or other similar instruments; A second switch 30 of likevconstruction to the. switch 10 is provided, the switch 30 having a pair of contacts 31 and 32. The switch hrm BO is connected with the strip 24" by a wire 30?, whiie the strip Zic cm'lnccts through a wire la'i'ith a source 'oif energy Q5 which is in turn connected through a wire 25h to the contact 33@ of the bell ringing mechanism 33 which is of precisely the same construction the mechanism 13, hereinbet'ore described, and which is vwired. in the same manner, the operating mechanism 33, however, being so designed that the hammer or clapper 33d wilt strike the bell 311. Each bell mechanism 33 is provided( with the binding posts 33e, 33 and 33g, that 336 being connected through. the wire 25h with the source ci electric energy 25g 'While the cona wire t with "he switch. other contact 3Q of tl "itch 30 being connected through a wire sa to the binding post 15W.`- Any number ci" betie Se may be connected togethenrs shown in Fig. 8, of the drawn witl ings, so to be simultaneously operated `upon the depression of any key inthe two octavos under'whic'h the contact maker 24 is located.

Instead of operating the bells simultaneously I may provide a series'o't differenty toned vbells corresponding to the notes of .the octave, one .for each key Li, as shown in il. O

F ig. 4, of the drawings, and in that event in lieu of the single contact strip 24C I provide separate contact fingers 35.-36-37, each of which is connected through a wire 35a-36a 37 respectively with the binding post 13e of its respective operating mechanism 33"mi 33"33Z, etc., as shown in l? ig. et, of the drawings. Upon depression of any of the keys, say, the key over contact 35 the mechanism will be set into operation effecting a vibrating action on the bell 841 or a tapping action ther-edn, depending upon the position of the switch arm 30, i s will be well understood by reference to Fig. 4, of the drawings. Fig. illustrates essentially the same Wiring and operating mechanisms as is shown in the form disclosed in Fig. 4, of' the drawings, with the exception that in the fornr shown in Fig. 5, the bells 34 are omitted and the various keys 38, 38u, 38h of a Xylophone 01' any other instrument of like character are acted upon by the hammers or clappers 33d.

In practice the switchesd() and 30 will be located beneath the key-board 5 so that they may be set by the knee of the operator when playing the piano.

The gist oi my invention resides in providing electrical means whereby drums and other instruments may be operated from the key-board of an ordinary piano, and whereby said instruments may have a vibrating stroke imparted thereto or a tap stroke, as

the operator may desire.

lVhile I have disclosed a bass drum l5 and means for operating the same from the pedal Q8 ot' a piano, Imake no claim in this application thereto, as the subject-matter of this portion oi my invention is reserved for a divisional application.

It is, of course, obvious that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In combination with the keyboard of musical instrument; a cont actfmaker enga geable by predetermined ones of the keys oi' said keyboard and having a plurality of conta'ctportions to be operated upon depression of at leastv one of said keys, a sounding body, a phirality of electromagnetic devices for operatively engaging said' sounding body, a source of electric energy and a single controlling means electrically connected to all of said elcctron'iagnetic dcvices'and to said contact maker which when in one operative position determines that said electromag netic devices .shall each imparta single tap to' 'said sounding body upon depression of any one of said keys and which when in another operative position determines that said electromagnetic devices shall each impart a series or rapid succession of taps to said sounding body upon depression of any one of said keys.

2. The ombination with a keyboard ot a musical instrument, a circuit closer inserted beneath the keys or" said keyboard and operable by the depression of at least one of said keys, an electromagnetic tapping device, a musical sound producing body to be tapped by said tapping device, electrical connections between said tapping dev-ice and said circuit closer, said electrical connections including a source of electric energy, and a single means which when in one operative position will determine that said tapping device shall impart a single tap to said musical sounding body when a key on the keyboard is depressed. to close said circuit closer and which when under'another operative position will determine that said tapping device shall impart a rapid succession of taps to said musical sounding body when a key on the keyboard is depressed tofclose said circuit closer.

3. The combination of a key-board, a plurality of independently-opcrating -circuit-closing contact-members beneath the keys of said key-board, a plurality of electro-magnetic tapping devices, ele/ctrical circuits eonnecting the tapping devices with said Contact members, and a single means interposed in said circuits which when in one operative positiondetermines that said electro-magnetic tapping devices shall each impart a single tap upon closin.J the circuit at the respective contact members and which when in anotheroperative position determines that said electro-m agnetic devices shall each impart a rapid succession of taps upon closing the circuits at the respective contact members.

' 4. The combination of a key-board, a plurality of independently operating circuit,- closing contact members beneath the keys of said key-board, a plurality of electromagnetic tapping devices, electrical circuit connections between said tapping devices and corresponding ones of said contact members in iii-tue ot' which each contact member controls the operation of a distinct one of said electromagnetic tapping devices, and a singlo circuit switch interposed in said electrical'circuit connections which when in one operative position determines that each of said electromagnetic devices shall impart a single tap upon closing` the circuit through their respective contact members and which when in another operative position determines that each of said electromagnetic devices shall impart a rapid succession of taps i the 'circuit connections between said circuit ing' bodies-that comprises in combination .tric ener electrical circuit connections be tween sai circuit closers, said source of elecmers shall impart a succession of taps upon upon closin said circuit at I,the respective contact mem ers.

5. In a device ofthe character stated, a keyboard, a plurality 'of circuit 'closers one for each'key, a lurality of electromagnetically actuated ammers, a plurality of musical sound producing bodies one for engagement by each hammer, a source of electrie energy and said hammerstand a single switching 'means coperating with thoaforesaid arts to simultaneous y control all of closers and their respective electromagnetically actuated hammers to determinethat said hammers shall impart a single tap upon closing the respective circuit closer w en said switching means is in one o erative position, and to determine that said .ham-

closing their respective circuit closers when said switching means is in another operative position, substantially as shown and described. 6. A'means oroperating sound producwith the keyboard of a musical instrument, a plurality of circuit closers cach operated 'by a different key on said keyboard, a plurality of electromagnetically actuated-ham mers, a single source ofelcctiic energy,v electrical circuit yconnections between said source of energy, said circuit closers and said hammers, and a single circuit switching means coperating with the aforesaid parts which when in one position will determine that a single tap shall .begiven by-a hammer upon depression of its respective key, and the tapping devices, electrical closing of its respective circuit closer, and which when in another operative position vwill determine that a succession of taps shall l be impart-ed by said hammer upon depression of its respective key andthe closingef its respective circuit closer.

l7. In combination with a keyboard having a plurality of independently movable keys, a plurality of circuit closing members beneath said keys one for each key, a plural-- ity of musical sound producing bodies, and x a tapping device `for each body, said tapping device com" rising an electromagiiet, an armature there or, a hammer carried by said armature and a make and break circuit closer controlled by the movements of said armature, electrical connections between the magnets of said tapping devices and the 'respective circuit closing members, a source oi? electric energy, electrical connections hetween. said sourceof electric energy and said circuit closing "members, a single circuit controllingr switch common to all of said connections bctween the magnets of all of said tapping devices and said switch and separate electrical connections between the make Iand break vcircuit closers of all of said tapping devices and said switch, electrical connectionsbetween the make and break circuit closers of said tapping devices and their respective magnets, all beinglso arranged that when said switch is in one position all of saidtapping devices will impart single taps whenL their respective circuit closing members'are voperated by the respective keys and that when said switch is in another position of said tapping devices will be set' intevibration upon closing their'respective circuit closing members.

l ALBERT D: PALMER.

lVitnesscs JOHN L. WALSH, ELLA DUrr. 

